ME Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 our upstairs sockets ring keeps tripping out. as soon as we use anything that has a big draw like hairdryer or electric radiator (our heating is bust too!) the circuit breaker trip switch on the fuseboard goes. we have just noticed that the circuit breaker switch on the fuseboard is buzzing too. is the circuitbreaker switch likely to be faulty ? as an extra bit of info we did have a small water leak upstairs over the weekend, but surely if it was that, it would be tripping out the whole thing all the time ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vmobiler1 Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 I`d maybe get someone in to have a look mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smig4373 Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 Strip some wires and stcick your tongue on them....Only kidding...I'be inclined to get some proffesional help in...You dont want electrics messing up this time of year,Might cost more aswell if you leave it and cause more damage..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 sadly get a sparkie in unless you're keen to play inside your consumer unit!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egg Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 sadly get a sparkie in unless you're keen to play inside your consumer unit!! x2: don't go dicking around with electricity - it's one of those jobs where it pays to get a pro in, especially when it comes to the consumer unit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SXPhil Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 We have our electrics covered by British Gas for something like £5 a month You could take one of these policies out and discover the problem next week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 We have our electrics covered by British Gas for something like £5 a month You could take one of these policies out and discover the problem next week wouldn't trust them with a barge pole if their sparkies are as good as their gas "fitters" my other halfs parents are knocking on a bit and had two separate engineers out as their hot water heating wasn't getting hot, checked a few things and both claimed the heat exchanger was furred up. I had a brief look and the rads were all piping hot so it didn't ring true. They got their plumber out despite paying for their maintenance plan and the ball valve on the header tank had stuck so there wasn't enough water in the system. Hey presto mended and no need for a new boiler which they were trying to sell them. Makes you mad when all these policies do is let them into your home to try and diagnose faults they have to charge to fix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SXPhil Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 I haven't had an issue they cover everything in my house They have been out for blocked sink, bulb in the oven gone, dishwasher not washing properly I really rate them especially as I am useless at DIY type stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooter Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 If the water, or for that matter the condensation, got into the sockets then they will cause a short. The buzzing is when there is a leak to earth, or a short circuit, but not quite enough to cause it to trip. On the cost side, whilst the breaker is buzzing you are using electricity, which you are paying for. Sounds like it all needs drying out, so don't use much power unless you have to, as it could cause tracking (where the electricity eventually burns a path down to earth), which can lead to an electric shock, or a fire. Your house insurance should cover you for leaks, and the remedial works, so get it done ASAP. Cooter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8landy Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 our upstairs sockets ring keeps tripping out. as soon as we use anything that has a big draw like hairdryer or electric radiator (our heating is bust too!) the circuit breaker trip switch on the fuseboard goes. Thats an easy fix! Just jam somthing under the trip so it can not move down and trip off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8landy Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 our upstairs sockets ring keeps tripping out. as soon as we use anything that has a big draw like hairdryer or electric radiator (our heating is bust too!) the circuit breaker trip switch on the fuseboard goes. Thats an easy fix! Just jam somthing under the trip so it can not move down and trip off But do not listen to me, I know nothing about electrics hence my signiture below. Sparkies are the bain of my life at work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooter Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 Thats an easy fix! Just jam somthing under the trip so it can not move down and trip off Luckily the design of the circuit breaker prevents it from being jammed on, otherwise that is how you kill somebody, and it could be you that gets the shock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ME Posted November 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 Just had all the landing floorboards up. No sign of any water or moisture. Waiting for electrician to let me know when he can come round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agusta Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 Luckily the design of the circuit breaker prevents it from being jammed on, otherwise that is how you kill somebody, and it could be you that gets the shock. You don't say...really?? </sarcasm> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starlight32 Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 Just had all the landing floorboards up. No sign of any water or moisture. Waiting for electrician to let me know when he can come round. Could be a faulty MCB in your board, even they go wrong sometimes!!! If it helps I know a gay electrican who takes payment in kind in these times of recession. Do you want his number? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegleg31 Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 you need a part p electrician as you cant do any elelctrics in your house now even if youir more than capable,could be anything from a loose wire to a earth or neutral fault. part p electicians cost alot though.if your fuse board isnt up to scratch you will need to have it replaced,and then there might be faults to add to the bill.before getting one round just wip your sockets off and have a check that all the wires are still connected and in the right place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HW682 Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 (edited) you need a part p electrician as you cant do any elelctrics in your house now even if youir more than capable While I do not encourage anyone to carry out electrical work unless they are competant, I think you need to check page 8 of Approved Document P. Basically it is permitted to carry out repair and maintenance and to add extra sockets or lighting points etc to circuits that aren't in the kitchen, bathroom or outside. This is only a quick summary, see the actual document for what is permitted and what isn't. HW682 Edit to add link: Approved Document P Edited November 4, 2009 by HW682 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beerdeor Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 Just a thought would it not be worth swapping an rcb from another circuit of the same rating to see if the fault goes, there is always a chance it maybe the rcb at fault and nowt else just a thought mind atb Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8landy Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 you need a part p electrician as you cant do any elelctrics in your house now even if youir more than capable, Is it not the case that you can do any work you want and then get in part P person to verify it / make final connections? I have done this and had work signed off by part P sparkie. I am not paying a sparkie to run a wire from a to b! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul1966 Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 unless its changed you are allowed to carry out work yourself except in certain areas, off the top of my head they are bathrooms kitchens and i think replacing the consumer unit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegleg31 Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 i may be wrong and usually i used to fit kitchens so know i wasnt allowed to add sockets unlees i was part p.And yes you are allowed to carry out work and then get a qaulified sparky to sign it off. but again,i'm not sure but if your wiring isnt upto current standards i think a sparky is supposed to bring them upto scratch(i could be wrong)i'm a joiner i dont know everything.Ask a sparky,they think they do :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8landy Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 But who is going to stop me fitting a new socket in my bathroom is I wanted? Know one comes to your house to check things, even if you sell your house these hips are a waste of paper. There are sparkies in my industry and when I worked off shore, and all our works is in Zone 1 or some times zone O, ATEX rated EXD and intrisicly safe etc. But becuse they do not have part P they are not classed as qualified, rubbish. But some kitchen fitter does a quick course and pays a few pounds to get a certificate and he is better than them. :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
death from below Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 Although I am not part P and still only 16th edition regs qualified(believe they are now onto 17th edition), I am a qualified spark under the old system(C&G 236 part 1 &2). I would be happy to come and have a look depending upon where you are in sunny essex(for the price of a cuppa and petrol money) but first try a bit of logical fault finding 1) do you have a new style consumer untit with a split level RCD protected system - are the circuit breakers MCB's fitted tightly - make sure your ring is wired to a 32A breaker 2) try the ring with no load(ie appliance) and see if the MCB trips 3) try each socket with an appliance to see if its any particular socket that is tripping(may just be a loose wire that has worked its way from the connector) 4) have you been up to any DIY recently that involved hammering/screwing stuff into walls or floors(always a favourite) 5) Modern MCB's are fantastically over engineered but, as mentioned, do go wrong(but very rarely) - try a different MCB in the ring socket(32A) 6) WITH THE POWER OFF - Check the insides of the sockets for loose connections - AND I MEAN WITH THE POWER STONE BONKERS OFF 7) Try different appliances on the ring (in case its a faulty hair dryer that is causing the MCB's to kick out) 8) How old is the wiring - are we talking Victorian lead rubber encased ancient stuff 9) Have there been any dodgy spurs added to the upstairs ring 10) check that the circuit is actually indepedent - ie is it connected to outside lighting/upstairs lighting/water heater etc etc - the trouble with buying a house that is x amount of years old is that you are never quite sure what ropey old DIY electrics have gone on over the years. Flick off all the other MCB's other than the upstairs ring and make sure no other areas i the house/outiside are still juiced up. 11) Its very unlikely that a leak would get into wiring unless it is old - if your consumer unit is buzzing then you have problems - could be anything from bad connections to a mouse caught in there(yes I have saw that with my own eyes - frazzled to ****) Was the leak anywhere near the consumer unit or plug sockets. 12) if all else fails, get back to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 3) try each socket with an appliance to see if its any particular socket that is tripping(may just be a loose wire that has worked its way from the connector) That would be my bet :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sooty 54 Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 Iwould suspect a loose connection on the circuit breaker that is buzzing .But you really need a qualified electrician to look at it .It may cost you if you don't know one , but will be cheaper ,and better than a possible fire . Hope this helps and isn't to worrying for you . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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